‘American Horror Story’ Season 3 Was Almost About Charles Manson

As far back as the end of 'American Horror Story: Asylum' last year, fans and followers of the Ryan Murphy FX horror drama had some inclination that the third season would lean toward witchcraft, ultimately confirmed by adopting the surname 'Coven.' 'American Horror Story' season 3 very nearly took a different turn however, as Murphy claims he originally intended to devote the season to the real-life story of infamous killer Charles Manson.

Speaking to Deadline, Murphy revealed that he intended to follow through on the Manson idea as recently as August 2012, and may in fact return to the idea in a future season once rights issues and tone resolve. Said Murphy of the 'American Horror Story' season 3 that almost was:

There was a point last year in August where I was like, “I want to do an entire season about the [Charles] Manson case.” But then we decided that wasn’t respectful to the victims, and it’s really hard to get life rights. So I went to the other idea, which was New Orleans witches that I’ve always been obsessed with.

We might go back to the Manson thing in some regard one day. We spend a lot of time specifically trying to get the look and the tone of it right. Every year has a different tone.

For those even vaguely unfamiliar with Manson, the murderer and musician famously led a 'Coven' of his own right in the Manson Family of late '60s California. He was eventually found guilty of conspiracy to commit the murders of Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, perpetrated by members of the family on Manson's orders. The name had also resurfaced in pop culture around 'Mad Men,' where Megan Draper (Jessica Pare) was thought to be an analogue of Sharon Tate.